99th Birthday of Field Marshal SHFJ Manekshaw on 03 April 13

1. Known to his friends as SAM, Field Marshal Sam Hormusji Framji Jamshedji Manekshaw, Militry Cross, was born on April 3rd, 1914. He had his early schooling in Amritsar and Sherwood College Nanital. Manekshaw belonged to the first batch of 40 cadets to be selected for the Indian Military Academy and was commissioned into the 12 FF Rifles on 4th Feb 1934.

2. In the first Burma campaign, he took part in several actions against the Japanese. On the Sittang river when he came to grips with the Japanese, during the push towards Pegu and Rangoon , Field Marshal (then Capt) Manekshaw led his company with courage and tenacity, despite being wounded. He was awarded the Military Cross (MC) for his gallantry and leadership. Later he was again wounded a second time and evacuated to India .

3. Later Manekshaw commanded an Infantry Brigade for two years. The Field Marshal is also a graduate of the Imperial Defence College . He was later awarded the Padma Bhushan in 1968 for his distinguished service. He commanded a Division in the J&K for a short duration and took over the command of a Corps on the Eastern Frontier in November 1962. On 4th December 1963, then Lt General Manekshaw became the first Indian Commissioned Officer to become an Army Commander and became the General Officer Commanding-in-Chief Western Command before taking over as the General Officer Commanding-in-Chief Eastern Command in November 1964. Field Marshal Manekshaw was appointed the Chief of the Army Staff on 8th Jun 1969.

4. Manekshaw was appointed the Colonel of the Regiment 8 Gorkha Rifles and 61 Cavalry on 24th May 1953 and continues to be the Honorary Colonel of the Regiment of the 8 Gorkha Rifles and 61 Cavalry till his death.

5. As Chief of the Army Staff, he rendered yeoman service to the Nation by forging the Indian Army into an efficient instrument of War. In his capacity as the Chairman of the Chiefs of Staff Committee, he welded the Army, Navy and Air Force into a well knit team working in perfect harmony which resulted in the capitulation of the Pakistani Army in the Eastern Front. The decisive results achieved by the Indian Army during the 1971 conflict with Pakistan under the able military leadership of Manekshaw gave the nation a new sense of confidence and his services were recognized by the President of India when in January 1973, he was elevated to the rank of Field Marshal.

6. The Field Marshal passed away on 27 Jun 2008 after a long illness at age of 94.